Weighing apparatus.



PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

A. L. BUCKLAND.

WEIGHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1904.

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WIZW'ESSES.'

UNITED STATES Patented March 7', 1905.

PATENT @Err WEIGHING APPARATUS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,142, dated March'7, 1905.

Application filed July 18,1904. Serial llo. 216,941.

To all whom, t muy concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. BUCKLAND,

a citizen of the United States, residing at j Marietta, in the county ofLac qui Parle and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Teighing Apparatus g and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in weighing apparatus designedparticularly for the weighing of grain; and it consists of furtherimprovement upon the invention described in my United States Patent No.

721,934, issued on the 3d day of March, 1903.

The main objects of the present improvements are, first, to providemeans for shutting off the inlet of grain into the apparatus while theweighed grain escapes; second, to provide means of escape of largeobjects in the grain, like cylinder-teeth of the threshing-machine orother foreign objects which may get wedged between the wall of theweighing-chamber and the end of the wings fixed on a rotatory shaft andforming alternately the bottom of the chamber; third, to give theoperated parts more freedom of motion, fourth, to improve on the variousparts, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin theclaims. These objects l attain by the novel construction and arrangementof parts illustrated in vthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l.is a front Ielevation of my improved weighing apparatus. Fig. 2 is alefthand side View of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same with most of the outsidemechanism omitted. Fig. 5 is a vertical section about as on the line a,a, in Fig. 4.

vertical section on the line t in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail edge Viewof the arm l2 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing amodified arrangement of the tally or indica- Fig. 6 is aA tor and itsoperativeconnection inlower part of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference-iinmerals, l represents a spout.,which may, if desired, be the delivery-spout of a grain-elevator, but ispreferably an independent box provided with ears or hangers 2, by whichit may readily be suspended from the spout of any elevator, and isthereby especially adapted to go onto small hand-elevators by which thefarmers load grain into thc wagons, so that they may by looking at thetally or indicator of the elevator' see just how many bushels they haveinthe load. The bottom 3 of said upper chamber l `is formed like ahopper, with an elongated opening l in its bottom, which at proper timesis closed by two wings 5, secured one to each rock-shaft 6, ournaled inthe walls of the upper chamber and boing geared together by themutilated gears 7v` one of which has a horizontal arm S,with a weight 9held ad justably thereon by a thu mbscrew l0, as best shown in Fig. 3.Said weight El turns the gears and closes the wings 5 against each othertlie moment the eighted arm is allowed to fall; but it is normallysupported in horizontal position by the peg ll of the arm l2, so thatthe wings 5 hang plumb down open, as in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The armis pivotally still firmly secured by the thumb-screw i3 upon the rearside ol" the weighing-chamber 1,4, which is suspended from the chamber lby the scale-beam l5, having the weight l and the arms 17 of its forkedend fulcrumed on scale-pivots 1S, fixed on the chamber l, and beyondsuch fulcrums engage the pins l), secured in ears 20, fixed uponopposite sides of the weighingchamber, so that when the weighing-chamberhas received half a bushel or a bushel of grain, according topredetermined regulation. of the weight 16, the said weight is raisedand the weighingchamber lowered, say, about one inch, as indicated bythe separation 21, shown to commence in Fig. l and to be greater in Fig.6, where also is shown a guiding extension 22, secured in one chamberand sliding in the other and always covering said separation of thechambers. llfhen ever the weighing-chamber is thus lowered, the arm 12withdraws downwardly the supportiiig-peg 11, so that the weight 9 closesthe wings in the bottom of the hopper until the weighed grain isdischarged from the weighing-chamber. The latter act is performed by thefollowing mechanism:

At each el two opposite sides of the upper chamber is pivotallysuspended a strap 23, said strap extending downwardly and having pivotalconnection 24 at its lower end with the inner ends ol: horizontal links25 and 26. The link 25 has pivotal support 27 at its outer end iipon oneside of the chamber 14. The outer end ot the link 26 has pivotal-supportconnection 28 with a vertical lever 29, iulcrumed at 30 upon the chamber14 and having its lower end formed into a journal lor one end of thetransverse roller 31.

Mounted in the bottom ot the chainbei 14 opposite the roller 31 is ashaft 33, to which are secured the radial wings 34. Upon one end of theshaft 33 is 'fixed a star-wheel 35, having one arm Vfor each wing 34.lith the arms of said star-wheel engages a pawl 36, holding the wings inthe position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, with the outer end or edge ol oneof said wings resting upon the edge ot the roller 31. ln. Fig. 2 thepawl 36 is formed ot the very end of the operating-lever 37 of theindicator 3S, while in the modification in Fig. 8 the pawl 36 is pivotedindependentlyT at 3Q and connected by a link 40 to the lever 37X. Thelatter arrangement is preferable where a small weak indicator is used,as it prevents the rebounding of the wings when they strike the roller31 from injuring the mechanism of the indicator; but where astrong-built indicator is used the arrangement in Fig. 2 is preferable.lt will be understood that with either ol said two arrangements theindicator is operated by the starwheel S5, and the said wheel isthereafter held by the dog or pawl 36 or 36X to prevent such reboundingof the wings 34 as might allow grain to pass over its free end. A slightrebounding is rather easier, and thus beneficiai to the mechanism, andis provided for by making the pawl 36 a little shorter than an exact litagainst each arm of the star-wheel.

From the above description it will be understood that when one el thewings 34 rests upon the roller 31 the next wing behind it closes thelarge opening41 in the ll'ront of the weighing-chamber, through whichthe wings are admitted into the said chamber.

Adjacent the roller 31 the lower portion ol the rear side of the chamber14 is formed into a [lap 42, hinged at its upper corners by pivots 43and held inwardly to a plumb position against the stop 44 by a spring45, secured at 46 upon the chamber 14. By this arrangement it a stone orother Vforeign body should be in the grain and get between the end oithe wing and the said .flap the latter wih yield and leave theobstructing objectloose enough to be pulled out at the rear ol theroller without injury to the apparatus or any material inaccuracy in the\\f'eighing, as the operating oi the elevator can be suspended as soonas a leakage oi grain is noticed between the said Hap and the roller.

The operation of the apparatus and its parts is alreadylairly explained.Still it may be added that in use the grain passes into and through thehopper, which is practicall y the same as the upper chamber, into theweighing-chamber until the weight ot the grain within the chamberoverbalances the weight 16. The weigliing-chainl)er will then dropsul'liciently to cause the straps 233 to pull on the links 25 26,turning thereby the levers 23 on their pivots, so that the roller 31swings outward beyond the end of the wing supporting the grain. Theweight el the grain on the wing 34 will then turn the shalt B3, allowingtlie grain to pass from the weighingchamber. As soon as theweighing-chamber is thus released lrom its charge ot grain the weight 16will restore it to its normal position. As the grain passes trom thechamber 14 it will tuin the shalit 33 sul'liciently to bring the nextwing into contact with the roller 31 to allow the continued use ol theapparatus. The operation of the indicator 35s and the valves or wings inthe bottom of the hopper has already been described.

To cause the wings in the bottom ol the hopper to close withextraordinary speed and accuracy, it is only necessary to move theweight S) taither out to the Vfree end ol its lever and to swing theupper end of the arm 12 in the saine direction suHiciently to maintainthe same pressure upon the peg 11 as before moving the weight, so as notto increase or decrease the once predetermined counterbalancing by theweight il against the larger weight 16. The proportionate moving of theweight 9 and the arm 12 is easily determined by moving first one andthen adjusting the other, so that the weight 16 is ready to rise whilethe regular weight ot grain is in the chamber 14.

The sliding joint 47 on the link 26 is to allow accurate adjustment elthe roller 3l, so that the weight ot the wing will neither retard norinduce its outward motion to release the wing. The sliding joint 4S onthe strap 23 is lor a similar purposenamely, to adjust the height of thejoint 24 so exactly in relation to the joints 27 and 28 that the linkswill not unduly resist nor assist the raising of the strap 23, as suchresistai'ice would alter the amount el grain required to trip the vlever29 and discharge the weighed grain.

Finally, it will be observed that the ears or plates 20 are pivoted at49, so that they ma)v act as links, and thus permit lree motion ol thechamber 14 upon the extension 22 ol the chamber l, whichY arrangement,as well as IOO the triangular scale-pivots 1S and 19, operate mucheasier than the slotted holes, round pivots, and fixed plates used in myformer .patent referred to.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a hopperor spout, of a weighing-chamber arranged below said hopper,counterbalancing means normally holding said chamber raised, mechanismmovably connecting said chamber and hopper, wings having rotatablesupport in said chamber, means actuated from said connecting mechanismto hold one of said wings in horizontal position when the chamber israised and to release said wing when the chamber is lowered, and a pairof oscillating wings in the bottom of the hopper for closingautomatically its bottom opening while the weighing-chamber is loweredand emptied, said wings being operatively associated with theweighing-chamber.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an upperstationary hopper-shaped chamber and a lower verticallymovablecounterbalanced chamber suspendedbelow the upper chamber, closing wingsin the bottom of each chamber, and mechanisms operatively associatedwith said wings and chambers to close automatically the wings in theupper chamber and open the closed wing in the lower chambersubstantially at the same time.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an upperstationary hopper-shaped chamber' and a lower verticallymovablecounterbalanced chamber suspended below the upper chamber, closing wingsin the bottom of each chamber, and mechanisms operatively associatedwith said wings and chambers to close automatically the wings in theupper chamber and open the closed wing in the lower chambersubstantially at the same time, said wings in the upper chamber beingtwo in number, each iiXed radially on a horizontal shaft, meshing gearsfixed on said shaft to cause the wings to open and to close against eachother, a lever proliecting from one of the said shafts, a weight on thelever, an arm secured upon the lower chamber and supporting said leverwhen the wings in the upper chamber are to be held open.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an upperstationary, hopper-shaped chamber and a lower verticallymovablecounterbalanced chamber suspended below the upper chamber, closing wingsin the bottom of each chamber, and mechanisms operatively associatedwith said wings and chambers to close automatically the wings in theupper chamber and open the closed wing in the lower chambersubstantially at the saine time, said wings in the upper chamber beingtwo in number each fixed radially on a horizontal shaft, meshing gears'fixed on said shafts to cause the wings to open and to close againsteach other, a lever projecting from one of the said shafts, a weight onthe lever, an arm secured upon the lower chamber and supporting saidlever when the wings in the upper chamber are to be held open, saidweight and supportingarm being adjustable, substantially, as and for thepurposes set forth.

5. In a weighing apparatus of the class described, the chamber having inits bottom a rotatory shaft with wings thereon, each of which in itsturn closes the bottom opening of the chamber, a roller supporting thefree end of the wing when it closes the opening, said chamber havingadjacent said roller a spring-pressed flap formed in its side wall,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a weighing apparatus of the class described, the combination of aweighing-chamber having a rotatory shaft in its bottom end provided withwings, each of which in its turn closes the bottom opening of thechamber, a movable support for the free end of the wing when in theclosed position, a star-wheel secured upon the said shaft and having oneradial finger for each wing on the shaft a pawl engaging said radialfingers to prevent rebounding of the wings when they strike the support,an indicator secured upon the chainber and having its operating-leveroperatively connected with said pawl and fingers.

7. In a weighing apparatus of the class described, the combination of aweighing-chamber having a rotatory shaft in its bottom end provided withwings, each of which in its turn closes the bottom opening of thechamber, amovable support for the free end of the wing when in theclosed position, a star-wheel secured upon the said shaft and having oneradial finger for each wing on the shaft, a pawl engaging said radialfingers to prevent rebounding of the wings when they strike the support,an indicator secured upon the chamber and having its operatingleveroperatively connected with said pawl and fingers by having the pawlformed at the end of the operating-lever.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a hopperor spout, of a weighing-chamber arranged below said hopper,counterbalancing means normally holding said chamber raised, mechanismmovably connectingsaid chamber and hopper, wings having rotatablesupport lin said chamber, means actuated from said connecting mechanismto hold one of said wings in horizontal position when the chamber israised and to release said wing when the chamber is lowered, and meansin the bottom of the hopper for closing automatically the bottom openingwhile the weighing-chamber is lowered and IIO emptied, said closingmeans being operatively associated with the Weighing-chamber and saidmeans 'for holdingthe wings in hori- Zontal position in theWeighing-Chamb e1* haw ing parts which are adjustable horizontally andvertically, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I a'HiX my signatuie in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED L. BUCKLANI).

Titnesses A. R. SiLvEnNALE, JOHN SHERMAN.

